The Uruguay striker's defense that he lost his balance and fell on his opponent will now be presented to FIFA's appeal panel, after his national federation notified FIFA late Friday it would challenge the nine-match, four-month ban.

"In no way it happened how you have described, as a bite or intent to bite," Suarez wrote in Spanish in a letter dated June 25.

The seven-man panel, which met on Wednesday evening, dismissed the argument. The bite was "deliberate, intentional and without provocation," the ruling stated in paragraph No. 26 of the panel's conclusions.

Today's games

Netherlands vs. Mexico, 11 a.m. (ESPN; Ch. 23 in Spanish) - Both teams have thrived after entering the tournament with marginal expectations. The Dutch, who outscored their opponents 10-3 during a perfect first round, were seen by many as no better than second best in Group B to defending champion Spain, the team that beat them in the 2010 title match. Mexico barely qualified for the tournament but have solidified under Miguel Herrera, who took over last October.

Costa Rica vs. Greece, 3 p.m. (ESPN; Ch. 23 in Spanish) - Costa Rica entered the World Cup as a long shot simply to advance out of Group D against three former champions. Greece, meanwhile, did not score in its first two World Cup games and required a penalty in injury time to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 and finish second in Group C. Costa Rica striker Joel Campbell played for Greek champions Olympiakos last season, and four of his teammates at the Athens-based club (midfielder Andreas Samaris and defenders Giannis Maniatis, Kostas Menolas and Jose Holebas) are playing for Greece.

For Muslim players, how to observe Ramadan?

ALGIERS, Algeria - The Muslim players whose teams have qualified for the second round face a thorny question Sunday, when much of the Islamic world will start observing the holy month of Ramadan with a dawn-to-dusk fast.

The question is trickiest for the Algerian team, which faces a formidable German side Monday. There are also Muslims on the Nigerian and French teams, and those players also will have to weigh their religious convictions against the possible effects of fasting on their performance.

"We need to discuss it among ourselves," Algerian player Djamel Mesbah said.

Athletes in the Olympics in 2012 faced the same hurdle, with many teams allowing their players to eat during Ramadan so as not to impair their performance and make up for it at another time or make donations to charity.

While fasting during daytime over the 30 days of Ramadan, including abstaining from drinking liquids, is mandatory for all able-bodied Muslims and one of the five pillars of Islam, there are exemptions, including for the sick, pregnant, infirm or elderly.

Yet even in Algeria, which is bathing in the euphoria of qualifying for the second round for the first time, religious scholars have offered a range of opinions, with some coming out strongly against fasting exemptions.

"We are often asked to urge players not to fast, but oddly, in some cases, there are athletes that get better results during Ramadan because they are fasting and want to," said Dr. Hakim Chalabi, a specialist in sports and fasting who accompanied the Algerian team to Brazil. "It can be a spiritual and psychological aid."

Berlin residents told to enjoy World Cup quietly

BERLIN - A Berlin court has upheld a woman's right to peace and quiet after 10 p.m. and ordered her neighbors to keep their doors and windows closed when they watch late Germany matches.

The court in the German capital's Neukoelln district ruled last week that there must be no "noise, particularly in the form of collective singing, bawling and loud shouting" from the neighbors or visitors on their balcony after 10 p.m. when Germany plays. A repeat offense could result in a fine of up to 250,000 euros ($340,000).

Berliners, like other Germans, are supposed at least in theory to keep the noise down between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Because of the time difference with Brazil, many matches have kicked off at 9 p.m. or later in Germany.

Briefly …

Mark Geiger will become the first American to referee a knockout stage match at the World Cup. The 39-year-old former math teacher was selected by FIFA to handle the France-Nigeria match Monday in Brasilia. … Germany F Lukas Podolski will miss Monday's match against Algeria on Monday because of a leg injury. … Switzerland backup F Mario Gavranovic tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in training and is out of the tournament. … A woman watching at the FIFA Fan Fest viewing area on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro was stabbed in the leg during an attempted robbery, the O Globo newspaper reported on its website. … Ghana's president removed the minister of sports and his deputy from their positions after the national team finished last in Group G, with a loss to the United States, four years after reaching the quarterfinals.

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